NEWARK — After weeks of rumors, Central Ward Councilman Darrin Sharif confirmed Friday night he will run for mayor of Newark in the city's 2014 election.

"I think I have something important to contribute to our city," Sharif said in an interview. "I wouldnt run if I didn't think that."

Sharif represents one of the city's most politically dynamic wards and in 2010 won an upset victory against Mayor Cory Booker's slate when he defeated incumbent Charles Bell in a runoff by 11 votes.

Much of the economic development in Newark and a large stake of its business community operates in Sharif's ward, but its residential neighborhoods are among the most troubled. Sharif said he has had a foot in both worlds and will use that experience as mayor.

"As Newark continues to go through this period of growth I feel confident that I can continue to lead the city on its upward trajectory," he said.

Since taking office he has earned a reputation as a deliberative legislator and a foil to the Booker administration.

But Sharif started out in Newark as a staffer in Booker's office when the mayor was himself the Central Ward Councilman. Sharif's father Carl Sharif was a top adviser to the mayor and an architect of his 2002 and 2006 mayoral campaigns.

"I've worked well with the the administration and in a number of areas I've stood up to them," he said. "I think people want a leader who is not going to be ideologically dug in."

Sharif, 51, joins an already crowded field of candidates. His fellow councilmen Ras Baraka and Anibal Ramos have been in the race for months already as has former Assistant State Attorney General Shavar Jeffries.

Still, Sharif comes into the race with much-coveted name recognition thanks to his and his father's political history in Newark.

A native Newarker, Sharif is a graduate of Rutgers-Newark and was formerly the director of operations for the Urban League of Essex County, according to his biography on the city's website.

An official announcement will be made on August 27 at 6 p.m. at the Robert Treat Hotel.
Editor's note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Sharif was still employed at the Urban League. He left the group when he was elected to office in 2010.